Hanoi

Hanoi

The capital of Vietnam, Hanoi is a city of many contrasts where the past meets the present. Spend a few days here exploring the traditional Old Quarter, the lavish French Quarter, and sampling the best of Vietnam's food and culture.

A wonderful time in Costa Rica

I had a wonderful time in Costa Rica so BIG THANK YOU... I couldn't fault it if I tried!

Joanna

Vietnam’s capital, Hanoi, is an elegant city set on the banks of the Red River. It is a city of many contrasts, from the traditional Old Quarter with its narrow streets and footpaths to the grand colonial buildings and wide boulevards of the French Quarter.

Hanoi is not as populous as Vietnam's southern capital, Saigon, nor is it as brash. The high-rise buildings that dominate the skyline of Saigon are a rarity in Hanoi, its centre dominated instead by its Old Quarter and its many tranquil lakes, foremost among them Hoan Kiem, which sits at the very heart of the city.

In Hanoi, as elsewhere in Vietnam, life carries on at the roadside, with food stalls, hairdressers and even dentists not an uncommon sight on the city’s narrow footpaths. Women carry heavy paniers over their shoulders plying their wares and robed monks can be observed making their way through the crowds and traffic. Hanoi is a great city to explore on foot, stopping to sample freshly brewed beer and noodle soup at one of the city’s many pavement bia hoi.

In and around Hanoi, VietnamThe Old Quarter, located to the north of Hoan Kiem Lake, is an area of 36 streets, each one named after the trade that used to take place there. Today the names are only of historic interest, with the bustling streets home to a variety of shops, bars, restaurants and boutique hotels. A popular way to explore the Old Quarter is by ‘cyclo’.

Huge Ba Dinh Square is home to Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, where visitors can join the solemn queue of mourners to see him lying in state. Nearby is the tiny One Pillar Pagoda and Ho Chi Minh’s simple stilt house, his preferred residence and a calculated contrast to the neighbouring Presidential Palace.

Hanoi is home to many temples, foremost among them the Temple of Literature, founded in the 11th-century as Vietnam’s first university, and Tran Quoc Pagoda, set on an islet in the West Lake, which buzzes every day with locals conducting their own private rituals.

As with any major capital, there's no shortage of museums in Hanoi, some more interesting than others. Take the time to visit the Museum of Ethnology, which houses artefacts from several of Vietnam's ethnic minority groups. The Military History Museum, which includes extensive coverage of the 20th century, and the Ho Chi Minh Museum, adjoining the mausoleum and dedicated to his life, offer interesting collections but aren't essential.

Featured itineraries

Complete Vietnam

Comprehensive 15-day itinerary covering North, South and Central Vietnam, visiting the northern and southern capitals of Hanoi and Saigon, the imperial capital Hue, the world heritage town of Hoi An, beautiful Ha Long Bay, the beach at Nha Trang, and the Mekong Delta.

Northern Highlights of Vietnam

12-day itinerary taking in the best of northern Vietnam, including Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Ninh Binh, Cuc Phuong National Park, and Sapa

Destination

Vietnam

Experience

Cultural Holidays

Prices from£1495pp

Read more

Complete Vietnam

Comprehensive 15-day itinerary covering North, South and Central Vietnam, visiting the northern and southern capitals of Hanoi and Saigon, the imperial capital Hue, the world heritage town of Hoi An, beautiful Ha Long Bay, the beach at Nha Trang, and the Mekong Delta.

Northern Highlights of Vietnam

12-day itinerary taking in the best of northern Vietnam, including Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Ninh Binh, Cuc Phuong National Park, and Sapa

Destination

Vietnam

Experience

Cultural Holidays

Prices from£1495pp

Read more

Accommodation

Golden Silk Boutique Hotel

The Golden Silk Boutique Hotel occupies a fantastic location on Hang Gai Street, in the heart of Hanoi’s old quarter. It stands out among Hanoi hotels for its vibrant décor and stylish piano bar.

Read more

Gondola Hotel & Spa

Opened in 2011, the Gondola Hotel and Spa is a stylish, Italian-influenced hotel situated in the heart of Hanoi's Old Quarter, within easy walking distance of Hoan Kiem Lake and Dong Xuan Market.

Read more

Hotel de l’Opera

The Hotel de l’Opera’s bright, vibrant style sets it apart from many of Hanoi’s more sober colonial-era hotels. As does its superb location, close to the city’s famous Opera House.

Read more

La Dolce Vita Hotel

La Dolce Vita Hotel provides a peaceful refuge amid the mayhem and mopeds of Hanoi’s lively Old Quarter. This 53-room boutique hotel offers some of the best value rooms in the city centre.

Read more

Maison d'Hanoi Hanova

One of the newest hotels in central Hanoi, the Maison d'Hanoi Hanova is a modestly priced but generously equipped boutique hotel with elegant rooms, a traditional Vietnamese restaurant, and a marvellous top-floor spa.

Read more

Silk Path Hotel

Located just off Hang Gai, Hanoi’s major shopping street, Silk Path is a stylish small hotel with an enviable location in the heart of Vietnam’s thriving metropolis.

Read more

Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi

Hanoi's grandest hotel, the Sofitel Legend Metropole was built at the turn of the nineteenth-century and offers world-class service and heritage in spades.